Office of University Communications 

Chinese executives to study American business at Missouri State

SPRINGFIELD — An estimated cohort of 40 executives from Chinese provincial governments will soon be able to learn about American business practices and earn an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) at Missouri State University.

This program, offered through the College of Business Administration (COBA), is modeled after a similar recently completed program to provide St. John’s physicians with a business background and an EMBA. The participants will be sponsored financially by their respective agencies and travel to the United States under a U.S. J-1 cultural exchange visa to learn about American business practices.

“The purpose of the program is to give the visiting Chinese executives exposure to business procedures, management tools, concepts and principles; as well as cultural exposures to American society, government and non-government organizations that they are not likely to obtain through MBA programs taught in China,” said Dr. Ron Bottin, COBA dean.

The students will complete the full MBA curriculum over a 12-month period, including seven core courses in the MBA curriculum and four electives selected by the college to complete the degree. Students will take one class at a time, each over a four-week period. All courses will be taught by members of the graduate faculty, selected on the basis of their knowledge of the subject matter and their teaching skills. 

“This will be an American experience, but at the same time it will provide Missouri State faculty, students, government officials, area business enterprises and the community an increased international exposure,” said Dr. Gerald Udell, associate COBA dean and MBA program director. “We will also be offering a variety of noncredit seminars and opportunities to tour local enterprises and organizations. Our hope is that every student that comes here will be an ambassador of note when they return to China.”